Dwyane Wade donating game check to charity for hurricane relief

Dwyane Wade told USA Today Sports that he is donating his entire game salary from tonight’s game against the Knicks to Hurricane Sandy relief.

Hoopsvibe’s Quick Call: Dwyane Wade is the man.

Wade, who says Madison Square Garden is his “favorite place to play,” has already spoken out publicly against tonight’s game between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks, saying that it should be postponed due to the aftermath from Sandy, which ravaged the east coast earlier this week.

Many are still left without power as the hurricane caused extensive damage throughout parts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

“I just felt there were bigger things to be concerned about than us being here to play a basketball game,” Wade said. “Obviously sports is something that takes people’s minds away from things, but there are bigger things that need to be done here in the city.”

The Brooklyn Nets were set to open their season against the Knicks at the brand new Barclays Center on Thursday, but that game has been postponed until November 26th. (It would have been the first time a major professional team sports game happened in Brooklyn in over 55 years.)

Even the New York City marathon, which mayor Michael Bloomberg confirmed in a press conference this morning was still going to happen as planned, has just been cancelled due to the opposition it faced.

But according to the NBA, the show must go on Friday night. The Heat and Knicks will square off tonight in New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden; and Wade, the compassionate person he is, announced today that he will donate the money he makes from Friday’s game, exactly $209,536.59 before taxes, to charity.

Wade told USA Today Sports, “I grew up very poor. I grew up many days, many night where I didn’t have electricity and a lot of things. Just being blessed with I’m blessed with today, that’s where my compassionate side comes from – knowing where I”ve been and knowing people who are still out there who are growing up like I grew up and are going through similar things that I did. I always try to to do what I can to help others.”

“The money I make tonight can be left for a good cause,” Wade said.

This isn’t the first time Wade has done something philanthropic like this. He helped raise $1 million in 2010 in aid for the relief effort following the earthquake in Haiti. The man sets a high standard we should all look to emulate.

Some players and fans, most notably Lebron James, have mixed feelings about whether or not the game should be played, because it can also be very uplifting to people during a time when they need it most.

“I think we’re all in agreement when we say that getting everything situated and getting everything back up and running from the hurricane is more important than a basketball game, but there’s also people that believe we need this basketball game for a lot of spirits and a lot of families. So I’m kind of 50/50 with it as well,” James said.

James has a legitimate point. Tonight’s game can definitely lift some spirits in the Big Apple, and let’s hope it does just that.